The Southwestern Company Internship Difference Blog
I ran across a blog post at http://www.zickets.com/why-southwestern-won-a-direct-selling-award/ I wanted to share about how after over 150 years, Southwestern Company is not “stale and old,” but “is still fresh adding to their industry.”
The blogger drew this conclusion because of Southwestern Company being one of only four companies in the Direct Selling Association’s membership to be awarded the Century Award.
Further, the blogger differentiates between Southwestern Company and others who do not do such a great job working to keep neighborhoods safe. My own opinion as to why this is:
Southwestern Company CEO Henry Bedford accepts the Century Award from the Direct Selling Sssociation
1) Selection process of quality, sharp students – these students are accomplished and have done something in their lives to prove they are goal-oriented and coachable.
2) Parental endorsement – parents endorse their children into the Southwestern Company internship even though they are over 18. It is always the right decision to have the parents help the college students to know if this is something right for them.
3) Training, training, training – there is no other direct selling company I know of that has more training than Southwestern company – from on campus to Sales School to Sunday meetings and get-back meetings and all the other training through out the year.
4) Emotional training – the psychology of the sale and how to have a positive attitude among other things are just as important to the sale as any other parts of the “Cycle of Selling.”
5) Not entirely focused on sales – sales is means to an end. Other life skills are covered to help the students be well-rounded and diversified. Success traits found desirable by employers are also included in the training.
These five things (and there are others) are some of the things that make the Southwestern Company’s summer sales program stand out. There have been many that imitate, but they do not have the longevity because they are superficial on the outside. If you’re going to do it, do it right.
To read about Southwestern Company’s Century Award on the corporate blog, click here.
Hey Trey, I just finished my sixth summer of working with Southwestern. It is so true that this company has done a great job at keeping fresh with the changing world. Most notably, the way in which the student dealers are catered to, has been most impressive. Every year the complaints and suggestions of its thousands of student dealers are implemented into the next year's marketing plan. When students wanted a better way to track their accounts, the company created a user friendly online hub. When managers wanted improved sample cases, the next year they rolled out vastly improved bags. I think Southwestern has stayed so current by listening to the wants and needs of its highly motivated and hard working student work force. Lets hope they are still selling books in the year 2110!
Thanks Caleb. I think it is the job of any company or organization to be able to adapt to changes. When the sales force or consumers have certain expectations, we have to be quick to listen and make decisions that will be beneficial. It’s one reason Southwestern Company has been in business for 155 years!
In working with the Southwestern Company as a student dealer; I would say that I do agree that they are "fresh and adding to their industry" the amount of effort they put into product development and quality, sales and ethics training, customer service is truly astounding, I have never been in contact with another company that puts as much effort into quality and service as they do.
Thank you C. Davidson… great to hear from you.